Boys & Girls Club rejects pot money

The Boys & Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties has turned down $14,000 from the owners of a licensed marijuana grower.

Randy and Janet Williams offered to donate part of the $600,000 raised at a recent marijuana auction to the Prosser branch of the clubs after the Prosser School District turned down an earlier donation.

Brian Ace, Boys & Girls Club executive director, will also not accept the money, he said in a statement Tuesday. He previously said the group was “evaluating internally” the donation.

“We are appreciative of the desires of the Williams family to donate funds to the youth of their community,” Ace said. “Due to the controversial nature of the origin of these particular funds, however, we believe that accepting this donation will distract our community from the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs: to promote Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, and Good Character and Citizenship.”

The clubs’ board is reviewing its gift acceptance policy to prepare for future donations that might conflict with its mission, it said. Donations will continue to be evaluated based on “intent of the donor, source of the funds, and purpose of the donation.”

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